Racial tensions in Minnesota high school lead to student walkout

Earlier this school year, hundreds of students staged a walkout at South High School in Minneapolis. According to reports, the demonstration was a peaceful call for change. Students say they want more awareness for cultural and ethnic diversity.

Ethnic diversity has been a high-profile topic at South ever since alleged racial tensions led to a cafeteria fight.

Students from North Community High School, a Reporting Labs site in Minneapolis, interviewed their peers from South to get their take on what had occurred.

.

Our youth reporters also talked to their peers at South about cultural awareness and a looming threat of changing the All Nations program, which offers American Indian-specific programming at the school. Activities such as drumming and “smudging,” a cleansing act using burning sage, were once regular parts of the program but have been discontinued.